Arundel squadron cadet Fangio achieves the Amelia Earhart Award

5/15/2018 – GLEN BURNIE, Md. – Civil Air Patrol Cadet Capt. Matthew Fangio of the Arundel Composite Squadron, a unit of the Maryland Wing, has earned the Amelia Earhart Award, which he was presented during a recent squadron meeting in Glen Burnie. With this award, Fangio was promoted to the grade of cadet captain.

Named in honor of the famed woman aviator and pioneer who achieved many aviation firsts before her disappearance while attempting to circumnavigate the world, the Earhart Award is the third milestone in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program and is awarded to cadets who have completed 11 of the 16 achievements in the program. Only three percent of all cadets nationwide have earned and received this award since it was established in 1964.

Fangio joined Civil Air Patrol in 2015 and is currently serving as Arundel squadron’s cadet deputy commander. He is a junior at Severna Park High School. Upon graduation from high school, Fangio’s goal is to pursue a college education in an aerospace-related discipline.

To achieve the Amelia Earhart award and complete the ‘command phase’ of the cadet program, cadets must pass a comprehensive exam covering aerospace topics and leadership theory. In additional, they must complete staff duty reports, mentor other cadets in aerospace training, pass a physical fitness exam, and lead moral leadership discussions.

Arundel Composite Squadron consists of both senior and youth programs with members from Anne Arundel and surrounding counties. The squadron meets Monday nights, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at Rejoice Fellowship Church located at 7606 Quarterfield Road in Glen Burnie, Md. We welcome new members who may have a passion for aviation, dream of flight or are considering a career in the military. CAP is a great way to serve your community and enhance your leadership skills. Join us. Youths, ages 12 to 18, parents and adults interested in the cadet or senior program are always welcome to drop by our meetings. Visit our website at https://arundel.mdwg.cap.gov/.

Nearly 1,500 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with four finds. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,245 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.6 million. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at mdwg.cap.gov or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.